Strack Pond, Restored kettle pond in Forest Park, Queens, United States.
Strack Pond is a restored kettle pond in Forest Park, Queens, covering about 3 acres in a natural depression. The water sits west of Woodhaven Boulevard and south of Forest Park Drive within the park's grounds.
The pond was buried in 1966 and remained hidden underground for four decades before its restoration began. It reopened as a nature preserve in May 2004 and has since remained accessible to the public.
The pond was named in 1969 to honor Private First Class Lawrence E. Strack, a local resident who died during combat in Vietnam. The naming reflects the community's connection to his memory and service.
The pond is surrounded by a maintained path that offers good views of the water and wildlife. Early morning visits tend to offer the best opportunities for watching birds and other animals in their natural patterns.
The pond now hosts turtles, frogs, and various water birds despite having been completely buried just decades earlier. This rapid return of wildlife demonstrates how quickly nature can reclaim a restored site when given the chance.
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